Jakarta – Khairul Fahmi, Co-Founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), believes that President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration has successfully maintained national stability amid various political, economic, and social dynamics during their first year in office.
“When we talk about peace and security during the first year of the Prabowo–Gibran administration, we can’t just focus on whether there was unrest or not. What matters is how well the state is able to manage those dynamics,” said Khairul Fahmi in an interview with Elshinta Radio.
He noted that the current stability is not a sterile or forced calm, but rather a managed stability achieved through adaptive policies and open channels for public expression.
“The government has been fairly capable in responding with measured policy corrections and security actions. Public channels for expressing aspirations have remained open, and that’s what has kept the situation under control,” he added.
Commenting on the unrest at the end of August, Khairul described it as a “major wake-up call” for the government, but one that was handled promptly.
“We saw the authorities respond in a more measured way while keeping dialogue open. That’s what prevented the situation from escalating into a national crisis,” he explained.
When evaluating the state of democracy, Khairul emphasized that public expression channels in Indonesia are still functioning effectively.
“Our democratic channels are still intact. That’s why public protests and grievances haven’t automatically turned into widespread defiance,” he said.
On defense issues, Khairul praised President Prabowo’s commitment to advancing domestic defense industry independence.
“From the beginning, Mr. Prabowo has pushed for strengthening the national defense industry to reduce reliance on imports. But achieving true independence is a marathon, not a sprint,” he stated.
He explained that foreign arms purchases remain necessary as part of a broader strategy for technology transfer.
“Buying defense equipment from abroad also serves a diplomatic function. We learn, access key technologies, and strengthen international relations,” he explained.
Nevertheless, Khairul stressed the need for the government to enhance its public communication so that policies and achievements are better understood by the wider population.
“What needs improvement is the government’s ability to explain what it has accomplished. Oftentimes, the work being done doesn’t reach the public,” he said.
As a sign of seriousness, he viewed the formation of the Government Communication Agency (BKP) as a timely and appropriate step to improve coordination of information at the national level.
Overall, Khairul gave high marks to the Prabowo–Gibran administration’s first-year performance.
“If I had to give a score, I’d say eight out of ten. The government has performed well, although there are still areas that need strengthening, especially in public communication and oversight functions,” he concluded.